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G. W. PRENTICE.

v I BUTTON FASTENING STAPLE. No. 357,626. Patented Feb; 15, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

GEORGE W. PRENTIOE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BUTTON-FASTENING STAPLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,626, datedPebruarylS, 1887.

Application filed November 29, 1886. Serial No. 220,127. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PRENTIOE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inButton-Fastening Staples; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters andfigures of reference marked thereon. which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to a new and improved two-pronged or staplefastening designed for securing eye-shank buttons to boots, shoes, andother articles. Fasteners of this class now in use are mainly pointedand flattened at the extreme ends only, and when the prongs of suchfasteners are clinched to fabric the said pointed ends are turned backinto the fabric, leaving the exposed portion of the prongs projectingabove the surface, and as they are of the same configuration of the wirefrom which the staple is made-usually round wire-they form anobjectionable feature of the staple, and in shoe or boot are liable toinjure the foot of the wearer.

My present improvement has for its object to provide a fastenerwithabroad thin smooth bearing-surface on the under side of thematerial, when secured thereto, with the least possible projections incontact with the person of of the wearer, and at the same time toproduce a stronger and more reliable eningthan has hitherto been made.

To this end my invention consists, essentially, of a two-prongedstaple-fastening made from wire, having semicircular crown or arch forthe reception of the eye of a button provided on each side withsemicircular shoulders or abutments terminating in broad thinspade-shaped prongs, said prongs to be passed through material and beclinched on the under surface thereof, to secure a button thereto, allas will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in theclaims.

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved button-fastening staple; Fig. 2,a side elevatWo-pronged fast- 1 tion of the same. Fig. 3 is abottom planview of the device as secured to fabric.

In carrying out my invention the fastening is formed from wire-in thepresent instance round wire. The central portion of the staple is bentto form the crown or arch 1, semicircular in form, for the reception ofthe eyeshank of a button, and is provided on each side with semicircularshoulders or abutments 2 2, terminating in broad thindownwardlyprojecting spade-shaped prongs 3 3, the-inner surfaces ofwhich are flat and substantially parallel with each other, thecutting-edges of the ends of the prongs standing at right angles to thelength of the staple, as fully shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Theprongs 3 3 are thinned and slightly concaved and flattened on theirouter surfaces from the ends to the shoulders 4 4, said shoulders beinglocated at or near the line of the under surface of the fabric to whichthe fastener is attached. The ends of the prongs 3 3 are formed slightlyoval, as shown in Fig. 2, which causes the center line of the prongs tocome in initial contact with the fabric in attachment, making it easy ofpenetration, and when clinched to fabric with a button attached thespadeshaped prongs form a broad thin smooth surface on the under side ofsaid fabric, as shown in Fig. 3, rendering it almost impossible todisengage the fastener therefrom or for the fastener to turn around inthe fabric, and at the same time'presenting the least possibleprojection, in no way liable to injure the flesh or clothing of thewearer.

The general form or configuration of the crown or arch of my improvedfastening above the shoulders is substantially the same as described inmy United States Patent N 0. 344, 858,

to which reference may be had. It is evident, however, that the form ofthe ends of the prongs as herein described, may be employed with equalresults on staple-fasteners having other forms of crown or arch. Theshape of the wire employed may also be varied to suit the requirementsof the trade or the option of the maker.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. As an improved article ofmanufacture, a button-fastening staple made from wire and provided atthe ends of its prongs with broad flattened spade-shaped points, thecuttingedges of which are oval in form and at right angles to the lengthof the staple, substantially as described.

2. A button-fastening staple made from wire, comprising a crown or archterminating in broad flattened spade-shaped penetrating prongs, saidprongs being provided on the outer surface with shoulders formed by theabrupt termination of the thinned portion of said prongs, substantiallyas set forth.

3. A button-fastening staple comprising a l

